Rep Round is over and Round 9 is upon us, so let's take a look at the last month of www.wdnicolson.com's tips kids:3/8 - 4/8 - 5/8 - 6/8So get ready for 7/8 in Round 9!*The Postman's Late Mail is back for Round 9!Remember our Game Previews are now purely the essentials in 2014 - I'll try to write very little fluff and you'll simply (entertainingly) get my read on each game and of course the Late Mail.

You can track each week's @NRLTweet Player of the Year Award Votes on Twitter via this link: #NRLTweetPOTYThe'Special Fried Rice'picks have returned but given it is me v me, every week - I'll just be listing my 'SFR' of the week with theFootyTab Starts as the variation aspect to keep things interesting vs just saying 'this team will win this week - guaranteed'. And it took 2 months but we're finally back at .500 in this evidently tough tipping category.HEADS UP: We will have a new episode of NOT The Footy Show - sometime before Origin 1. So keep an eye on your iTunes Podcast folders for Episode 151 in the future.*www.wdnicolson.com makes no guarantees this week...Round 8 Tipping was all-star like (compared to our start to the season) with 6/8 - Let's get to the Tips!

ROUND 9 TIPS and LATE MAILAll tips are subject to last minute changes, Game Odds/FootyTab are from Wednesday night and do not update thereafter. Times listed are stadium location LOCAL time.Friday at Allianz 7:50pm

Roosters $1.26 v $4.00 TigersFOOTYTAB: WST +9.5 Teams Analysed on our NRL Injured List@NRLTweet's PREDICTION:If Maloney plays the Roosters left edge will get a huge chance to audition to be the NSW left edge in a few more weeks... seems enough motivation to cut the Tigers apart on Friday. Farah won't be ready we don't think but still - going the Chooks. Roosters by 10 points.

LATEST OF LATE MAIL from The Postman:HOME - The Roosters likely give Casty his first run of the year (if he's fit), while Napa and Mortimer likely miss out. If Maloney misses either Mortimer goes to five-eighth or Aubusson does.AWAY - The Tigers almost certainly won't have Farah yet (next week he's a chance) while the rest of the squad looks likely to be 1-17. Fulton is no certainty.Friday at Townsville 7:50pm

LATEST OF LATE MAIL from The Postman:HOME - The Cowboys still have some doubt over Cooper and especially Tariq Sims (ankle), with Riethmuller likely on standby. The other option is Kostjasyn to lock and Mitchell returning to the squad at hooker.AWAY - The Broncos have left Hannant out (but seriously would anyone be surprised if he was a late inclusion?) but Hala has been named in the #14 for the Broncos and at prop for Redcliffe in the QLD Cup.... Hoffman should play after an ankle issue cause him to miss Round 8. Thaiday will play if he gets through a fitness test later in the week, while there was talk Kennedy didn't finish training earlier this week... interesting times at the Broncos.Saturday at Mt Smart 5:00pm (local)

Warriors $1.47 v $2.72 RaidersFOOTYTAB: CAN +6.5 Teams Analysed on our NRL Injured List@NRLTweet's PREDICTION:No changes for the Raiders after getting beat by 50... the Warriors beat Melbourne in Melbourne. Plus it is in Auckland... so Warriors get the nod - though Canberra won't be as bad as they were last time out. Warriors by 10 points.

LATEST OF LATE MAIL from The Postman:HOME - The Warriors might bring Locke into the starting team (he's been dynamic in NSW Cup since returning from injury), while Matulino could start for Ikahihifo in the backrow. Hooker Siliva Havili went from impact bench player at Test level to NSW Cup... unlucky kid.AWAY - The Raiders got beat by 50 last time out... and the same team got named this weekend. So who knows what Ricky Stuart has in mind... sorry.Saturday at Gold Coast 5:30pm

Titans $2.80 v $1.45 RabbitohsFOOTYTAB: GLD +6.5 Teams Analysed on our NRL Injured List@NRLTweet's PREDICTION:If Kelly and Sezer play then the Titans probably deserve to be picked... but the Bunnies looked pretty good at times last week and Tom Burgess might be a late inclusion and I think if South Sydney's bench makeup improves - they are a legitimate threat once again. Rabbitohs by 4 points.

LATEST OF LATE MAIL from The Postman:HOME - The Titans won't make a call on Sezer and Kelly til later in the week, with Zillman or Bird likely to partner Sezer if Kelly misses as expected. Another option is the all-star backrow combo of Harrison and Bird in the halves... don't laugh - it could happen!AWAY - The Bunnies have named a thousand reserves... but Tom Burgess as a late inclusion? Don't rule it out - saw him in NSW Cup last Saturday and he made an immediate impact. Also Luke isn't far away remember...Saturday at Melbourne 7:35pm

LATEST OF LATE MAIL from The Postman:HOME - The Storm get Chambers back and look relatively healthy... though Waqa was expected to miss a month with an ankle injury so he may be a late scratching.AWAY - The Sea Eagles may have Littlejohn and Buhrer as their halves against Melbourne... so DCE not playing would be giving Toovey nightmares. The other option is Littlejohn and Brett Stewart... yikes!Sunday at Newcastle 2:00pm

Knights $1.61 v $2.35 PanthersFOOTYTAB: PEN +4.5 Teams Analysed on our NRL Injured List@NRLTweet's PREDICTION:Penrith deserve respect for how they've defended but they won't scare anyone with their attack based on what we've seen so far... while Newcastle are a team that can be on one or two weeks and then terrible the next time around... got the feeling this is a good time to be on the Knights... Knights by 2 points.

LATEST OF LATE MAIL from The Postman:HOME - The Knights lost Sims for a week so they'll bring another forward in -maybe we see Pat Vaivai, Toka Likiliki or impressive U20s forward Joseph Tapine)? Uate should play, while Mamo is either on standby or legitimately going to be rested this weekend after not being named for the U20s. Sione Mata'utia may get the call instead if Mamo and Uate aren't ready.AWAY - The Panthers could add Tim Grant (calf) late but they are probably 1-17.Sunday at ANZ 3:00pm

Dragons $2.70 v $1.48 BulldogsFOOTYTAB: SGI +6.5 Teams Analysed on our NRL Injured List@NRLTweet's PREDICTION:How does Steve Price expect his team to have any kind of cohesion in attack by changing his halfback every second week? Witt wasn't the long term answer but he was hardly their poorest performer against the Roosters on ANZAC Day - but he makes way for Williams (who was dropped despite playing well earlier this year) - but are they just making room for Benji? Anyhoo... can't pick Saints, and Dogs just keep winning right now. Bulldogs by 4 points.

LATEST OF LATE MAIL from The Postman:HOME - The Dragons are going to have late changes... Steve Price loves them and the players likely hate them... but he'll do them regardless. Good luck figuring out what they are kids...AWAY - The Bulldogs get Lafai back but there was no room for Inu.Monday at Parramatta 7:00pm

Eels $1.66 v $2.25 SharksFOOTYTAB: CRO +2.5 Teams Analysed on our NRL Injured List@NRLTweet's PREDICTION:Hayne plays and I'm worried about taking a Carney-less Sharks but the way Cronulla found a way to beat the Panthers - well time to give the Sharks some love. And I didn't like what I saw from the Eels in North Queensland. Sharks by 2 points.

LATEST OF LATE MAIL from The Postman:HOME - The Eels may not risk Hayne if not close to full fitness, so Hunt could come in at fullback after he was named at #1 in NSW Cup. The other option is Sio to fullback and Toutai onto the wing.AWAY - The Sharks left Holdsworth out to play Lewis at 6 which is interesting but slightly encouraging as they need something... that something is Benji Marshall but Lewis will do this weekend.